Electric clock system.



No. 790,753 PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. S

- W. A. ROBERTS & E. T. ROBINSON.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19,1904.

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No. 790,753. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. W. A. ROBERTS & E. T. ROBINSON.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 19.1904.

3SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

N0. 790,753. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. W. A. ROBERTS & E. T. ROBINSON.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..19,1904.

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W I J UNITED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT ()FFICE.

IVILLIAM A. ROBER'S AND EDIVARD T. ROBINSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD I. ROBINSON,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,753, dated May 23, 1905,

Application filed March 19, 1.9%. Serial No. 198,878.

To (til /1/0711 it may concern:

Be it known. that we, WILLIAM A. ROB- ERTS and EDWARD T. RonmsoN, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Olock Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a system of clocks in which a series of secondary clocks are synchronously controlled by a master-clock. The system includes means whereby electrical or galvanic currents are relayed. from the secondary clocks at intervals through out the series thereof. The system further includes means whereby the secondary clocks are uniformly set to compensate for any variation in their accuracy.

The invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a diagrammatical view illustrating our clock system. Fig. II is an elevation of the electrically-controlled mechanism of the master-clock of our system. Fig. III is a plan or top View of the mechanism shown in Fig. II. .Fig. IV is an elevation of the electrically-controlled mechanism of one of the secondary clocks of our system. Fig. V is a perspective view of the eseapementpawl shaft, escapement-pawl, and armaturebar of the mechanism shown in Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a top view of the magnet and armature shown in Fig. IV. Fig. VII is an elevation of the cleetrically-controlled mechanism of the relaying secondary clock. Fig. VIII is an elevation of the clock-setting device. Fig. IX is a vertical longitudinal section of the setting device. Fig. X is a ver tieal cross-section taken on line X X, Fig. VIII. Fig. XI is a View of the spring that controls the mechanism in the setting device.

Referring first to the diagrammatical illustration in Fig. I, A designates a master-clock that is arranged in circuit with a series of sec ondary clocks B through the medium of distanee-oonductors O, O, O and D, the secondary clocks being placed in circuit in the course of said distance-conductors through the medium of connecting circuit-wires E. In the circuit of the distance-conductors O C is abattery F. Gis a local batteryfrom which extend the local conductors H and I. 1 designates the case of the master-clock A, (see Figs. II and III,) in which is the clock-movement frame 2. 3 is the escape-wheel of the masterelock, and 4 is the escapement pawl that is fixed to a shaft 5. Fixed to the shaft 5 alongside of the escapement-pawl is a rocker 6, provided at its outer end with a fork 7. S is the balance-wheel shaft, to which is fixed a rocking finger 9, that operates in the fork of the rocker 6 to impart oscillation thereto and to the shaft 5 and escapement-pawl 4 during the oscillation of a balance-wheel of usual form on the shaft 8. 10 is a contactarm rigidly carried by the escapement-pawl shaft and provided at its free end with a contact 11. I2 is a contact-arm mounted in a binding-post 13 and having its free end extending into proximity with the contact-arm 10. On the free end of the contact-arm 12 is a contact I l, that opposes the contact 11 of the arm 10. The binding-post 13 receives the connection of the local circuit-conductor I. 15 is a magnet supported in the masterclock case. This magnet is arranged in circuit with the contact-arm. 10 through the medium of a conductor I, that leads from one of the magnet-coils to a connection 16, fixed to the clock-movement frame 2, the circuit being completed between said connection and the escapement-pawl shaft 5 through the clock-movement frame. The second coil of the magnet is connected to the local battery G by the local conductor II.

The parts just described constitute all of the features of the master-clock that lie within the local circuit of the local battery G.

17 designates an armature that is swingingly supported on a shaft 18 in. proximity to the poles of the magnet 15 to be attracted. thereto when the magnet is energized, due to the operation of the parts of the secondary clock, as will hereinafter appear. The armature 1.7 is arranged in circuit with .the battery F through the medium of the distanceconductors 0 C 19 is a yoke in which the free end ofthe armature 17 operates, the lower arm of said yoke haying mounted thereon an insulatorblock 20. is a contact-screw 21, that has connected to it the distance-conductor D.

I will now describe the mechanism in the secondary clocks B that are, as stated, positioned in the circuit of the distance-conductors C, C, C and D. The arbors 22 of said secondary clocks are arranged to be operated through the medium of a train of gearing such as is partially illustrated in Fig. IV and contact-arm 12, from which it returns to the tor which no invention is herein .claimed.

23 designates a toothed drive-wheel that is fixed to .a shaft 24, which is geared to the,

train of gearing leading to the arbor 22.

2,5 isanescapement-lever that is fixed to a rock-shaft 26 and the points .or pallets of whichare arranged for alternate engagement pied to be again actuated as the next second with the teeth of the drive-wheel 23.

27 is an armature-bar fixed to the rock shaft 26, and 28 is an armature carried by said bar. 29 is an extension-arm carried by the armature-bar .27.

30 is a magnet having its poles positioned in .opposition to the armature 28 to attract said armature when the magnet is energized. One .coil of the magnet 30 receives the connection of the distance-conductor C or the connection of one of the connecting-conductors E, according to the position of the secondary clock in the series in which it is located. The other magnet-coil terminates in one of the connecting-conductors F. (See Fig. VI-) Theextension-arm 29 of the armature-bar 27 operates between an insulator-block 31 (see Fig. IV) and a stop-screw 32. The stopscrew 32 is provided with a platenized inner end that opposes the armature-bar extensionarm 29, and the inner end of said stop-screw and the insulator-block 31 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit of a suflicient rocking motion of the armature and escape'mentpawl 25 to allow the pallets of said pawl to intermittently and alternately engage and be disengaged from the teeth of the drive-wheel 23 to impart movement thereto, due to such engagement when the armature is drawn to the magnet 30 on the energization of said I magnet.

In the upper arm of the yoke 19 to the rocking finger 9, which imparts vibration to the rocker 6 on the escapement-pawl shaft 5. Oscillation is thereby imparted to said pawl-shaft to permit intermittent oscillation of the escape-wheel 3 in the usual manner. Each time that the escapement-pawl 4 is rocked to permit movement of the .escapewheel the contact-arm 10 is thrown downwardly, carrying the contact 11 thereof to the contact 14 of the fixed contact-arm 12. A circuit is thereby created from the local battery G through the master-clock magnet 15 over the local circuit conductor H and from the magnet through the conductor I to the clock-movement frame 2 and through said frame to the contact-arm 10 in its lowered position and therefrom into the fixed local-circuit battery G through the conductor I. The completion ofcircuit through the course described is of momentary duration only, and as soon .as the balance-wheel oscillates on its return rotation the parts are carried to the positions they previously occuof time is measured by the halanceavheel. Each time that the local-battery circuit of the master-clock of our system is closed in the manner described the magnet 15 is energized, and .as a consequence .of such .energiza tion the armature 17 is attracted to poles of said magnet, thereby establishing a circuit from the master-clock tothe secondaryclocks, the current flowing through the conductors C, C E, D, and C and in its course traversing the yoke 19 and armature 17. As the coils of the magnets 30 in the secondary clocks are in the course of said circuit, ,due to the connections stated, the magnet in each sec ondary clock is energized each time that the master-clock magnet 15 is energized during the measuring of the seconds of time, and therefore impulses are occasioned, due to which the secondary-clock armatures 28 are drawn to the poles of the magnet 30 to cause actuation of the drive-wheel 23 through the medium of the escapement-lever 25. The energization .of the magnet 30 is of momentary duration only, due to the control of the circuit through the mechanism in the masterclock, and as soon as the current is cut out of the magnet 30 the armature 28 is drawnaway from the poles of said magnet by the spring 33 to position the escapement-lever 25 ready for the next actuation of the drive-wheel 23.

Where the extent of the system of secondary clocks is one of any considerable length, it is desirable, if not imperative, that the secondary clocks farthest removed in the system be made subject to a relaying of the long-distance conduction of current, and we therefore embrace in one or more of the secondary clocks a construction whereby an additional source of electrical current is brought into action for service in connection with the secondary clocks extending beyond the location of the clock or clocks provided with such additional construction. The construction just referred to is illustrated in Figs. I and VII. In this construction the clockmovement mechanism and means for actuating said mechanism is the same as that described in connection with the secondaryclock parts hereinbefore described, and no additional reference thereto is deemed necessary. For convenience in description the secondary clock in which the additional relaying connections are made will be specified as the relaying secondary clock 13*. (See Figs. I and VII.) C" is a conductor leading from the stop-screw of the relaying sec ondary clock to a battery F, and C is a conductor leading from the battery F to the first of a second series of secondary clocks B that are united by connecting-conductors E, similar to the conductors E. D is a conductor leading from the movement-frame X of the relaying .secondary clock B (see Fig. VII) to the farthest-removed secondary clock B of the second series and united to one of the coils of the magnet 30 therein,(not

shown) the other coil of said magnet having connected to it a connecting-conductor E. It will be seen from the foregoing that the second series of secondary clocks are placed in circuit with the first series of secondary clocks on each pulsation of the armature 28 in the relaying secondary clock B so that the current from the battery F is brought into service. This is due to the movement of the armature-arm 29 in the relaying secondary clock to the stop-screw 32, so that a circuit is completed from the battery F through the conductor C to the stop-screw 32 and from the battery through the second series of secondary clocks and the conductor D to the clock-movement frame X and therefrom to the armature-shaft 26 and over the armaturearm to the stop-screw each time that said armature-arm is moved to the point of said screw on the armature being drawn to the poles of the magnet 31'} in the relaying secondary clock.

I/Ve next come to a description of the set ting device of our system, which is illustrated in Figs. VIII to X, inclusive. 34 designates a case that is provided exterior of one of its faces with a dial 35, (see Fig. VIIL) indicating seconds of time. 36 is a rock-shaft extending transversely through the case 34 and rotatively mounted in the front wall of said case and in a post 37 interior of the case. The rock-shaft 36 has fixed to it a crank 38, having a handle 39 and provided with a pointer 40, that traverses the dial when the rock-shaft is rotated. 41 is a convolute spring having one of its ends fixed to the rock-shaft 36 and having its other end held at 42 to the post 37. (See Figs. X and XI.) This spring acts to impart retrograde rotation to the rock-shaft after it has been retated in aforward direction. 43 is a pawl carrying arm keyed to the rock-shaft 36 and having loosely mounted therein a springpressed pawl 44. (See Figs. IX and X.) 45 is a spur-wheel loosely mounted on the rock-shaft 36 and provided at its face adjacent to the pawl-carrying arm 43 with a ratchet 46, with which the pawl 44 engages. 47 is a revoluble shaft surmounting the rockshaft 36 and journaled in suitable bearings. (See Fig. X.) 48 is a pinion fixed to the shaft 47 and meshing with the spur-wheel 45. 49 is a toothed wheel fixed, to the shaft 47 50 is an escapement-pawl rockingly supported at 51 on the post 37 and having its pallets disposed to engage the teeth of the toothed wheel 49 to control the movement of said wheel. 52 is a contact-arm mounted in a binding-post 53 and having its free end or contact-point so disposed as to be engaged by the points of the teeth of the wheel 49 as said teeth pass beneath said arm. Electrical current is conducted to the setting device just described by the circuit-conductor C D, that leads to a contact J, that is located adjacent to the crank 38 of the setting device, so that the current passing over the conductors C and C is first conducted to said crank to pass therethrough and is only completed when the crank is bearing against the contact J. The circuit to the setting device is completed by a shunt-wire K, that leadsfrom the distance-conductor D to the binding-post 53 of the contact-arm 52. In the act of setting the secondary clocks the crank 38 is rotated a distance corresponding to the number of seconds of time the secondary clocks are to {be advanced, so that the armature 17 of the master-clock will be cut out and the pointer 40 will be brought to a corresponding indication on the dial 35, and for the purpose of illustration it will be assumed that the see ondary clocks are five seconds slow. The crank 38 is moved to the numeral 5 on the dial 35 against the action of the spring 41, fixed to the rock-shaft 36. Rotation is thereby imparted to the rock-shaft to an extent corresponding to the movement of the crank 38, and the pawl-carrying arm 43, being fixed to said shaft, is moved correspondingly. The spur-wheel 45, being loose upon therockshaft, remains stationary during the forward rotation of the rock-shaft. The crank is then released, and the spring 41 imparts retrograde rotation to the rock-shaft and returns the pointer of the crank to zero. During this movement the pawl 44 by engagement with the ratchet 46 rotates the spur-wheel 45, thereby imparting rotation to the pinion 4S and the revoluble shaft 47. Rotation is therefore imparted to the toothed wheel 49, with the result that five of the teeth of said wheel, or a number corresponding to the point on the dial 35 to which the crank-can ried pointer 40 is moved, are caused to engage the point of the contact-arm 52 as the teeth travel beneath said arm. As a consequence a pulsating current is delivered into the distance-conductors C, C, C, or D, leading to the first series of secondary clocks and the connecting-conductors E between the clocks or where a second series of secondary clocks is used through the conductors leading to the second series'of secondary clocks to energize the magnets 30 of all of the clocks in the circuit. It will be understood that these pulsations being of a number corresponding to the number of teeth of the wheel 49 engaged by the contact-arm 52 there will be a corresponding number of energizations of the secondary-clock magnets, which occur in rapid succession and as a result of which on the attraction of the secondary-clock armatures to 1 the magnets therein the drive-wheels .23 will be actuated to an extent to set the clocks correct.

We claim as our invention 1. In an electric clock s stem, the combination of a master-clock aving an escapewheel, an esca ement-lever, a contact-arm carried by said ever, a fixed contact adapted to receive said lever-carried contact-arm, a magnet, an armature for attraction to said magnet, a contact member to which said armature is adapted to move; a local battery connected in circuit with said fixed escapement-lever, receiving-contact, said magnet and said escapement-lever, a series of secondary clocks having electrically-actuated driving-escapements, and conductorsleadingfrom said master-clock armature and armaturereceiving contact member to said secondary driving-escapements, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric clock system, the combination of a master-clock having an escapewheel, an escapement-lever, a contact-arm carried by said lever, a fixed contact adapted to receive said lever-carried contact-arm, a magnet, an armature for attraction to said magnet, a contact-yoke to which said armature is adapted to move; a local battery connected in circuit with said fixed escapementlever-receiving contact, said magnet and said escapement lever, a series of secondary clocks having electrically-actuated drivingescapements, and conductors leading from said master-clock armature and armature receiving contact-yoke to said secondary driving-escapement, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric clock system, the combination of a distance-circuit, a series of secondary clocks located in said distance-circuit and provided with gearing-trains, drivewheels for-said gearing-trains, escapementlevers en aging said drive-wheels and provided wit armatures, magnets in said secondary clocks to which said escapement-pawl armatures are attracted to actuate said drive-wheels, a local battery, a master-clock located in said distance-circuit and havin an escapement-wheel, an escapement-pawI actuated by said escapement-wheel, a contact-arm oscillatingly carried by said escapement-pawl, and a fixed contact-arm having connection with said local battery and adapted to receive said oscillating contactarm, substantially as set forth.

4. In a synchronizing-clock system, the combination with a master-clock and a series of secondary clocks having their mechanisms electrically connected, of a secondaryclock-setting device having connection with the circuit leading to said secondary clocks; said setting device consisting of a toothed wheel in said circuit connection, a contactarm to be engaged by the teeth of said wheel and having connection with said secondaryclock circuit, and means for rotating said toothed wheel to a predetermined degree, substantially as set forth.

5. In a synchronizing clock system, the combination with a master-clock and a series of secondary clocks having their mechanisms electrically connected, of a secondaryclock-setting device having connection with the circuit leading to said secondary clocks; said setting device consisting of a toothed wheel in said circuit connection, a contactarm to be engaged by the teeth of said wheel and having connection with said secondaryclock circuit, means for rotating said toothed wheel to a predetermined degree, and means for returning said toothed wheel to its original position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in a synchronizing clock system, with a master-clock and a sesaid setting device consisting of a toothed wheel in said circuit connection, a contactarm to be engaged by the teeth of said wheel and having connection with said secondaryclock circuit, means for rotating said toothed wheel to a predetermined degree, and springactuated means for returning said toothed wheel to its original position, substantially as set forth.

7. In a synchronizing clock system, the combination with a master-clock and a series of secondary clocks having their mechanisms electrically connected, of a secondaryclock-setting device having connection with the circuit leading to said secondary clocks; said setting device consisting of a toothed wheel in said circuit connection, a contactarm to be engaged by the teeth of said Wheel and having connection with said secondaryclock circuit, a shaft on which said toothed wheel is mounted, a pinion on said shaft, a rock-shaft, a spur-wheel and ratchet loosely mounted on said rock-shaft, a pawl-carrying member fixed to said rock-shaft, a pawl carried by said member and engaging said ratchet, and a spring for returning said rockshaft after it has been rotated, substantially as set forth.

8. In a synchronizing clock system, the combination With a master-clock and a series of secondary clocks, having their mechanisms electrically connected, of a secondaryclock-setting device having connection With the circuit leading to said secondary clocks; said setting device consisting of a toothed Wheel in said circuit connection, a contactarm to be engaged by the teeth of said Wheel and having connection with said secondary- WILLIAM A. ROBERTS. EDWVARD T. ROBINSON.

In presence of E. S. KNIGHT, BLANOHE HOGAN. 

